The shortlist for the Drywite Young Fish Frier of the Year 2018 has been announced!
Today (Tuesday 15th August) the top 10 young fish friers names have been announced as part of the National Fish & Chip Awards 2018, organised by Seafish.
The Drywite Young Fish Frier Award was created to encourage the younger generations* who enter the Fish & Chip industry to become leading lights within the industry and both grow and share their knowledge in the coming years.
Senior industry experts have judged the entrants through means including exam questionnaires and in-depth telephone interviews. The 10 semi-finalists now having to undergo further appraisal through a skills based assessment (chipping potatoes, making batter, frying fish) as well as a personal interview during a comprehensive judging day at the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF) Training School in Leeds, which will leave the final 5 contenders.
The 10 Young Fish Friers who will be 'battering it out' to become the 2018 champion are:
- Peter Calvert - Mister C’s in Selby, North Yorkshire
- Katie Gray, Iona Wilson and Alex Walker - Low’s Traditional Fish & Chips in Westhill, Aberdeenshire
- Sam Parry - Top Chippy in Conwy, North Wales
- Magda Ganea - Real Food Café in Tyndrum, Stirling
- Brett Coulton - Black’s Finest Fish & Chips in Halton, Lancashire
- Jason Wales - Scrap Box in York
- Charlie Collins - Frydales in Leicester
- Andy Hillier - Harbourside Fish & Chips in Plymouth
A Word from the Sponsors
Kelvin Lee, Managing Director of Drywite Ltd, said: "The Drywite Young Fish Frier of the Year Award has attracted an exceptionally high standard of entries again this year, making the judges’ job of whittling it down to 10 semi-finalists very difficult. It’s great to see so many young friers with a real passion for the industry and I am confident that the future of fish and chips is safe in their hands.”
Marcus Coleman, Chief Executive at Seafish the awards' organisers, added:
“For the last 30 years, The National Fish & Chip Awards have showcased the very best of what the UK fish and chip industry has to offer, and the 2018 Drywite Young Fish Frier of the Year Award semi-finalists certainly do not disappoint.
“Reaching the top 10 in a UK-wide competition is no mean feat - they should be extremely proud of themselves for making it this far. I wish them the best of luck in the next stage of the competition and take great comfort that our industry is going to be handed down to such talented and passionate individuals.”
The Drywite Young Fish Frier of the Year Award will be presented, along with the 13 categories, in London at the National Fish & Chip Awards' 30th anniversary ceremony on 25th January 2018.
For more information visit www.fishandchipawards.com or follow @FishnChipAwards #FishnChipAwards
For further information on the Drywite Young Fish Friers visit www.drywite.co.uk
For more information about the awards or anything else Fish & Chip related, keep a lookout at www.friarspride.com @FriarsPrideLtd on Facebook and @FriarsPride on Twitter
*(must be under 25 years at 31st December 2017 and have 6 months experience to enter)